A man suspected of blowing up his Manhattan townhouse so his ex-wife could not benefit from its sale has died.

Dr Nicholas Bartha, 66, died late on Saturday from injuries he suffered in the explosion which levelled the building a week ago. Police were unable to speak to him following the blast because he was in a medically-induced coma.

Dr Bartha's ex-wife told police she received an email from him shortly before the explosion warning that she would be "transformed from gold digger to ash and rubbish digger".

It continued: "I always told you I will leave the house only if I am dead."